(9/6/2018) A review paper to be published in Environmental Research concludes that the current scientific evidence supports the conclusion that mobile phone and wireless radiofrequency radiation (RFR) is cancer-causing. This paper is a review and summary of animal experimental evidence and human epidemiology studies (case-control, cohort, time trend and case studies) published after the World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) categorized radiofrequency radiation (RFR) emissions from mobile phones and other wireless devices as a possible human carcinogen (Group 2B) in 2011. The authors conclude that the current scientific evidence strengthens and supports an upgraded classification that RFR should now be categorized as carcinogenic to humans (IARC Group 1).

“With the epidemiological studies of humans over many years and the recent findings of the US National Toxicology Program and Ramazzini Institute animal studies, we now have enough evidence to classify Radiofrequency Radiation as carcinogenic to humans. Thus it is critical that governments take action to reduce human exposure to Radiofrequency Radiation, and halt the introduction of 5G networks,” stated author Anthony B. Miller MD of the Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto and Senior Advisor to Environmental Health Trust.

Gliomas and acoustic neuromas are the specific focus of the paper as similar tumors are found in both human and animal studies of mobile phone radiofrequency radiation. Case-control studies were considered to be superior to the cohort studies or other methods in evaluating potential risks for brain cancer as case control studies allow more detailed consideration with a focus on highly exposed persons. Studies that only consider cancer rate increases in the general population will not necessarily pick up an increase in tumors as cancer from an environmental exposure can take four decades to be evident in the general population and widespread exposure to mobile phone RFR has been only about two decades.

The authors conclude that “current evidence is strong enough to go from precaution concerning possible risk to prevention of known risks” with a “concerted program of public and health professional education” to promote safer technology “while every attempt should be made to reduce exposure to RFR in schools, as well as homes.”

“Researchers are pointing to microwave radio-frequency radiation as causing illness in US Embassy staff,“ stated Dr. Devra Davis, co-author of the paper and President of the Environmental Health Trust referring to the New York Times coverage of a new paper by University of California San Diego medical researcher Dr. Beatrice Golomb and research on microwave hearing by scientistAllen Frey. “Cell phones and wireless expose us to microwave radiation every day. If targeted microwave radiation can damage diplomats then what will daily exposure to wireless radiation do to our children and us? Before we blanket our nation with 5G, yet another layer of microwave radiation, we must critically examine its impact on our health and environment.”

“The CDC just released new research that found increases in brain, liver and thyroid cancer among those under 20 years old in the United States. The time for meaningful policy change is now. We must raise this issue at every level of government and reduce radiofrequency exposure in our communities -especially for our children,” stated Theodora Scarato, Executive Director of Environmental Health Trust. “Outdated government regulations need to catch up with current science.”

Environmental Research publishes original reports describing studies of the adverse effects of environmental agents on humans and animals. The principal aim of the journal is to assess the impact of chemicals and microbiological pollutants on human health. Both in vivo and in vitro studies, focused on defining the etiology of environmentally induced illness and to increase understanding of the mechanisms by which environmental agents cause disease, are especially welcome. Investigations on the effects of global warming/climate change on the environment and public health, as well as those focused on the effects of anthropogenic activities on climate change are also of particular interest.

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